ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, September 27, 1996 TAG: 9609270038
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.
SOURCE: Associated Press
SAFETY PERCY ELLSWORTH wasn't drafted in April, but will start for New York against Minnesota on Sunday.
When Joe Skiba isn't working in the New York Giants locker room, the 19-year-old watches videotapes of college football games.
Most of the time, Skiba just wants to see the NFL stars of the future. Occasionally, someone unexpected catches his eye.
Last spring it was Percy Ellsworth of Virginia, and the observation has given the Giants a new starting safety.
Ellsworth wasn't drafted this past April, and there's a good chance he might be back in Charlottesville finishing his degree had it not been for Skiba, a William Paterson College junior who also works as the Giants' assistant locker room manager.
Skiba, who looks like he still should be in high school, happened to walk into a room where secondary coach Zaven Yaralian was watching videotapes of college players.
``I was looking at guys like [Lawyer] Milloy [of Washington] and watching a couple of guys on Florida State against Virginia and Joe comes in and says: `Coach, look at this Percy Ellsworth guy,' and I didn't know who the hell he was,'' Yaralian said. ``That was the first time I ever heard of him.''
Not only did Ellsworth overcome the odds in making the team as a free agent, he will replace Tito Wooten (broken leg) and make his first start Sunday when the Giants (1-3) play the Minnesota Vikings (4-0) at Giants Stadium.
``Percy, as a free agent, I thought he had a lot of talent but I didn't know how much he'd improve,'' said Yaralian, who likes Ellsworth's size, at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds. ``He came in and put on some weight and really worked hard. He's picked off a lot of passes in practice and he covers a lot of ground.''
Ellsworth has gotten a lot more playing time the past two weeks. He was on the field for more than half the plays against the New York Jets, subbing for Jesse Campbell in nickel and dime situations.
Wooten's injury on a hit against Keyshawn Johnson will increase Ellsworth's playing time.
``I think I played solid, but I don't like a game where I don't make a big play or a play people remember,'' Ellsworth said.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Ellsworthby CNB